"Here I stand, I can do no other, God help me."   Its hard for me to imagine a Diet of Worms! It sounds so unappetizing. But nonetheless I too would prefer to stand rather than to  partake of a diet of worms. But of course, I have mangled and distorted the context of that quote attributed to Martin Luther.  In 1521 Martin Luther was asked to recant his criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church, in the City of Worms where a Diet (a general assembly) was held and presided over by Emperor Charles V.  Most scholars now believe that Martin Luther likely never uttered these words as there are no contemporary records of them.  But that declaration implies the speaker's inalterable and unwavering commitment to his beliefs. Even if Martin Luther never spoke those words, his actions displayed them as surely as if he had uttered them.  The fact that he was committed was never in doubt.

Today it seems that there are few leaders or persons who are committed to much of anything. That is not to say that today's leaders are not involved in many things but they seem largely to lack commitment. What is the difference between commitment and involvement? Here is the best illustration I have ever heard that answers that question. If you had a breakfast of ham and eggs,  the chicken was involved but the pig was committed!  That sums it all up for me. I have been increasingly become more despondent and feeling helpless and hopeless over our political leaders. All I seem to see is a lot of involvement and little or no commitment to solving the problems facing our nation. I lack trust in any political party or any state or federal representatives, and in any member of the executive or the judicial branches of government. I still have faith in God, He being the only answer to all of our problems. But yesterday morning my faith given a boost. I saw that  leaders of our government can be committed to a just cause and they can be determined to champion such a cause their might and ability.

I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican and all though I am currently not a registered Libertarian, I am with a couple of exceptions in accord with that party's platform.  I occasionally attend the Tidewater Libertarian Party monthly meeting. I did so yesterday morning. The guest speaker was Delegate to the Commonwealth of Virgina's General Assembly, Johnny Joannou. His topic was the misuse and abuse of imminent domain. Unlike most politicians, Delegate Joannou , was clear, concise, candid and open without a hint of pandering to the audience. Most of all it was clear that he was committed to stopping the blatant violation of personal rights perpetrated by government through the abuse of imminent domain. His proposals, including an amendment of the Commonwealth's Constitution are squarely aimed at protecting the rights of individuals to own property and prohibiting the government's unconstitutional confiscation of one person's property for the benefit of another private citizen or entity. He is opposing big money from big developer's lobbyists as-well-as  lobbyists  for agencies of our Commonwealth!  He is facing some resistance from his own party and has been standing tall anyway. I am not easily fooled by the typical pandering of politicians, I can recognize insincerity, duplicity and empty promises. Delegate Joannou is not promising two chickens in every pot. He is clearly an honest and COMMITTED man. Thanks to him I have a little more hope than in our government that I have had in a very long time.  Would that we had more leaders in government that are committed rather that being merely involved.